About

CHF 239,775

pledged of CHF 40,000 goal

895

backers

What is a prototype?

A prototype is a preliminary model of something. Projects that offer physical products need to show backers documentation of a working prototype. This gallery features photos, videos, and other visual documentation that will give backers a sense of what’s been accomplished so far and what’s left to do. Though the development process can vary for each project, these are the stages we typically see:

Proof of Concept

Explorations that test ideas and functionality.

Functional Prototype

Demonstrates the functionality of the final product, but looks different.

Appearance Prototype

Looks like the final product, but is not functional.

Design Prototype

Appearance and function match the final product, but is made with different manufacturing methods.

Production Prototype

Appearance, function, and manufacturing methods match the final product.

Prototype Gallery

These photos and videos provide a detailed look at this project’s development.

The Werenbach story

It started with a wild dream: to build a watch from a real space rocket. Now we set out with an even bigger dream to achieve.

After one of the most successful watch stories in Kickstarter history, we wanted to return to you, our supporters, with something new once again: a watch with a real piece of rocket at its heart that now, also connects you to space to share the view of an astronaut in real time.

On our first trip to Kazakhstan, searching for our rocket.

MACH 33 collection

The name itself - Mach 33 - refers to the speed required to overcome gravity itself on Earth.

Not from this world, but at our fans’ request, with a very down to Earth price. That was the core idea for this collection. Not only do these watches contain real space rocket material, they also connect digitally through your smartphone - a world first. Visually, these new watches are crafted from a single, beautiful monohull case and come paired with a sporty Nato-strap.

In addition to the main models, we have special collections offered as unique rewards for our supporters, limited due to the availability of the rocket materials themselves.

Sport Collection 209 USD

The sport collection with a plate from the rocket booster shell (grey: outside rocket surface; silver: inside rocket surface) at its heart.

Classic Collection 229 USD

The Classic Collection with a plate from the booster shell (inside rocket surface) at its heart

Specials 259 & 279 USD

Gravity is a limited edition due to the limited amount of orange material on the rocket. All other material is used for our mechanical watches

For those who want the Gravity but who don't like the size. Please choose the pledge of the sport collection and add at the end the white leather strap.

The view of the astronaut - an out of this world experience

Thanks to a long-term experiment aboard the ISS, it is possible to take in the same perspective as our astronauts (only during the indefinite project schedule). Four cameras transmit different perspectives to the world below and allow you through your phone to access all that they see.

The Planet 9 in front of the original material (Soyuz rocket) and the ISS live stream on the smartphone.

Genuine rocket material from Soyuz MS-02

We incorporate real space rocket material into each of our watches - otherwise, it wouldn’t be a Werenbach. The material itself comes from a Russian Soyuz rocket (MS-02) that transported three astronauts to the International Space Station and was recovered by hand in the Kazakh steppe, before being transported to Switzerland and put at the heart of the watches.

Cutting the rocket into pieces.

Monohull housing

A special feature of the new collection is the case of the watch itself. It has neither a screw nor back casing on it, made instead from a single piece of metal. These cases have a special look that impresses with genuine quality and simplicity.

The beauty of the case back.

Digital integration

The incorporation of a tiny chip inside the Mach 33 creates a whole new watch experience. Thanks to the chip, your watch can easily be authenticated as a genuine Werenbach. Touching it to your smartphone also gives you information about the space material used in the watch, as well as where in the rocket it is from, the mission and so on.

To access all the features the Werenbach chip enables, iPhone users need to download our app to be able to read the signal of the watch, while Android phones already have the chip-reading technology enabled.

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Chip and smartphone interatction

Watch straps

The basic models of the Mach 33 are manufactured with the straps shown in the according to the pictures above (not as the prototypes). Nevertheless, you can customise your watch choosing additional straps in the survey as soon as the Kickstarter campaign ended.

The different straps to individualize your watch.

Made on Earth

To realize this collection, we have teamed up with international production partners from across the globe. From us in Switzerland comes the concept, design, planning and quality assurance. The NFC technology and dials are from Germany. The movements are from Japan (Seiko). The cases are from a top production factory in Hong Kong. The rocket itself was originally from Russia (and then recovered from Kazakhstan). All made by humans on Earth.

Dial manufacturing in Germany

Spaceborn ideology

“When you see the Earth from space, it changes the way you think.” Frank White, US astronaut.

Viewing first-hand how small the Earth is in comparison to the universe, astronauts understand that we are just a tiny part of something much greater. It’s a humbling realization to think like this - and a way of thinking that opened our eyes to a bigger view of the world. It has been the guiding light to all we have achieved - and this new collection. We are so much driven by this finding, that we created our own name for it: Spaceborn.

For the first time with our new Kickstarter collection, we have found a way to bring this view of Earth to our watches. By tapping your smartphone to your new Werenbach you will directly access the live view from the International Space Station of Earth - your chance to see what only astronauts have seen before.

The astronauts' perspective.

From the founder

“To me, the watches represent mankind’s journey into the final frontier - space - and that humbling realization for an astronaut of how life, when they return, can never be seen in the same way. It’s a wondrous thing to be able to rethink our existence on Earth, and I hope that these watches - that have been off this planet and back - give people the chance to rethink their world when they wear them.” - Werenbach founder, Patrick Hohmann

High definition Earth viewing system

The NASA High Definition Earth Viewing (HDEV) experiment aboard the ISS was activated April 30, 2014. It is mounted on the External Payload Facility of the European Space Agency’s Columbus module.

Please note:

Livestream is only available if the ISS is on the “day side” of the Earth (every 45 min). During this downtime, recorded NASA video footage will be shown.

The HDEV cycling of the cameras will sometimes be halted, causing the video to only show select camera feeds. This is handled by the HDEV team, and is only scheduled on a temporary basis. Normal video will resume once the team has finished their scheduled event.

The four cameras of the HDEV experiment are oriented in different directions and with different views relative to the ISS travel direction. They are in position, 1 looking forward, 1 looking nearly straight down, and 2 looking back. This provides several different viewing angles to the viewer.

The cameras are programmed to cycle from one camera to the next, and only one camera can work at a time. As they cycle, each camera must turn off and the next camera turns on before the HD video starts, taking about 8 to 10 seconds to change. Through this cycling, comparable data can be collected on each camera; while also providing, as a bonus, different Earth viewing perspectives.

Timeline

Jan 2018 Design

Feb 2018 Technology integration

Mar 2018 Prototype

Jun - Jul 2018 Crowdfunding

Aug - Nov 2018 Manufacturing

Dec 1-15 Shipping

Warranty & FAQs

Maintaining the high quality we are already known for is one of our prerogatives, and so we want to ensure your Werenbach lasts as long as it should. Each watch body (straps excluded) comes with a two-year warranty on workmanship, materials and parts, and beyond that, we are always wanting to be in touch to be sure you are satisfied with your watch. For more information or other questions, see our FAQ section here.

We love telling our story, and if you love it too, feel free to share using the pictures, background information and more you will find here. Whether you’re a journalist or a fan, we’re just glad to have you here with us as we take off on our journey. Feel free to reach out any time through info@werenbach.ch

Taxes

Some countries charge an import duty for purchasing an item from overseas; we wish we had the power to eliminate them but unfortunately, we do not.

International fans should be aware that prices billed by Werenbach ltd. for goods shipped outside Switzerland or the European Union do not include any taxes, duties, VAT or other charges. All fees, duties, and taxes, including VAT, are the sole responsibility of the recipient and must be paid upon arrival in the destination country. Usually, these fees are demanded upon delivery and are collected by the shipping courier or the local customs authority. For more details, please contact your local customs office. In the event that you refuse the delivery, you would be responsible for any duties and shipping costs that are incurred to return the product to Werenbach Ltd. Thank you for your understanding!

On shipments with a value of less than 800 USD to the United States, no taxes will be due (de minimis regulation). (Changes in regulation reserved).

Gallery

Planet 9, customised with a black leather Nato strap

The Gravity, customised with a brown leather Nato strap

The Sport B42 customised with a textile Nato strap

The Classic W42

The Sport W42, customised with a black rubber strap

The Sport W42

The Gravity

In cooperation with BackerKit

Risks and challenges

Before launching this Kickstarter campaign, our working prototypes have been rigorously tested by both ourselves and selected watch experts. In fact, we have spent the past year advancing our designs and working prototypes to meet the qualifications we ourselves would expect from a watch.

We are confident that we will meet or beat our projected delivery dates. We have built in extra time for any potential delays in the manufacturing process and expect to ship by the projected dates. Our backers will be in the loop as we communicate updates at every stage of the process.

Our manufacturers stand ready to activate production as soon as we meet our Kickstarter funding goal.